Clough’s numbers game

James Shield

Eyebrows were raised when Nigel Clough embarked upon a ruthless cull of his first team squad soon after arriving at Bramall Lane.

Five months on, and having led the League One club into the FA Cup quarter-finals, the Sheffield United manager has shed further light on why big, when it comes to the numbers at your disposal, is not always best.

“We’ve always preferred to work with smaller groups,” Clough, referring to his lieutenents Gary Crosby and Andy Garner, said. “Because, that way, everyone feels as if they’ve got an opportunity.

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